She looked at her husband with sudden understanding. “You think this attack was not random.”
He shrugged as they came out of the maze. He had found the way out unerringly, proving his sense of direction was much better than he had pretended on their way in.
“I don’t know. It could be. But it is very coincidental that we have suffered two attacks in less than a month. And the thugs didn’t demand my purse. They were intent on murder.”
CHAPTER 23
THE NEXT AFTERNOON, Abigail was having tea with Elizabeth when Colin returned home. He had spent all morning visiting the police station to find out what he could about the ruffians who had attacked them last evening.
After the debacle in the gardens, they had all missed the balloon ascent. Colin had asked Wang to escort them home while he stayed behind with the police. He had returned home late and left early this morning.
Now as he entered their little parlor, she could see at once lines of pain and worry on his face. He was walking stiffly and, after a brief nod to them, sat on one of the armchairs, leaning back with a barely muffled sigh of discomfort.
“Are you all right?” She asked, turning toward him in concern.
“Perfectly fine.”
“You don’t look fine. In fact, you look in pain.” A horrible thought occurred to her. “Were you attacked again? Are you hurt?”
“Of course not. I just have some discomfort on my back.” He admitted gruffly. “Don’t fuss.”
“As you wish.” She said, deciding to drop the subject since he obviously didn’t want to discuss it. “Did you learn anything from the police?”
“They only caught one of them. The other two escaped.” He bit out.
“That is unfortunate. But maybe he could lead them to his accomplices.”
He snorted. “He was happy enough to rat them out, but even knowing their names, it would be hard to catch them. There are countless rookeries in London. Lawless places where criminals could hide indefinitely.”
“Has he talked about the attack?”
“Yes. But he knew precious little. It would have been more useful to capture the leader. As it is, this one only knows that a ‘rum cove’ had contacted his partner and offered money to assault us. But he doesn’t know who.”
Abigail gasped. If that was the case, the shots and the assault at Cremorne were deliberate attacks. No wonder Colin looked so worried.
Before she could think of what to say to that, Elizabeth jumped up, oblivious to the undercurrents in the room.
